Hello everyone, this is GOK, who operates the Shinjuku area media “Daily Shinjuku.”
A sister store of the popular Otsuka-based “Onigiri Bon-GO” that always has long lines, “Onigiri specialty store Bonko” has opened in Shinjuku. We went to visit on the opening day, which currently only offers take-out service, but please refer to this article for information.
New onigiri specialty store ‘Bonko’, affiliated with ‘Bon-GO’ in Otsuka, opens in Shinjuku!
Onigiri specialty store Bonko” opened on January 18th (Wednesday) for take-out only, as a sister store of “Onigiri Bon-GO” founded in 1960 in Otsuka. Eat-in service will start from January 26th (Thursday).
The shop is located along Meiji Street in Shinjuku Sanchome, where “Isetan Shinjuku” is located.
The name of the shop “Bonko” means “half portion” in reference to “Bon-GO”, and it is said that the name will be changed to “Bon-GO” when it is officially recognized as a full portion.
Take-out menu of ‘Onigiri specialty store Bonko’, affiliated with ‘Bon-GO’
『take-out menu of “Onigiri specialty store Bonko” had the following lineup.
Menu of “Onigiri specialty store Bonko”
[300 yen (tax included)] 41 varieties
No filling with seaweed / No filling without seaweed / Plum / Fresh salmon roe / Grilled salmon roe / Salmon / Spicy cod roe / Baby sardines / Clams / Green shiso / Okaka (bonito flakes with soy sauce) / Shibazuke (pickled cucumbers and eggplant) / Furuzuke (pickled daikon radish) / Shiso-miso / Cheese / Curry / Salmon mayonnaise / Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) mayonnaise / Jako (small fish) mayonnaise / Tuna mayonnaise / Peanut miso / Sea urchin with jellyfish / Takuan kimchi / Aji-no-hana (flowers of salted sardine) / Konjac and pickled plum / Wasabi pickled vegetables / Natto (fermented soybeans) / Mamake-ha (seaweed) / Salted fish entrails / Fuki miso / Kazunoko (herring roe) with shiso / Red jellyfish / Takana (pickled mustard greens) / Karabuki (pickled daikon radish with red pepper) / Nozawana (pickled leaf mustard) / Nori no tsukudani (stewed seaweed with soy sauce) / Hato-garashi (dried chili pepper) / Yamagobo (burdock root) / Beni-shoga (pickled red ginger) / Miso-nigiri (miso-flavored rice ball)
[350 yen (tax included)] 9 varieties
Ika mentaiko (squid and spicy cod roe) / Negitoro (chopped fatty tuna and green onion) / Stamina yakiniku (beef barbecue with garlic) / Maguro kakuni (braised tuna) / Tori karaage mayo (fried chicken with mayonnaise) / Buta kimchi (pork and kimchi) / Jako nama shichimi (raw small fish with seven spices) / Bacon / Egg yolk soy sauce pickle
【¥400 (tax included)】5 types
Gyuu suji (beef tendon) / Hokki salad / Niku soboro (minced meat and egg) / Mentaiko and cream cheese with mentaiko (spicy cod roe) and cream cheese / Peperoncino
【¥600 (tax included)】1 type
Karasumi (bottarga or mullet roe)
In addition, they also sell 2 types of miso soup (tofu soup and nameko mushroom soup) and 3 types of pickles (cucumber, takuan, and mix).
In addition, two types of miso soup (tofu soup / nameko mushroom soup) and three types of pickles (cucumber / takuan pickled daikon radish / mixed) are also available for purchase.
In the store, the top 10 rice ball orders were listed, so we’ll introduce them briefly.
[Top 10]
- Salmon
- Beef sinew and salmon roe
- Egg yolk pickled in soy sauce
- Fresh cod roe
- Butter and cream cheese with squid and tuna
- Pork with kimchi
- Fried chicken with mayonnaise
- Dried baby sardines with shichimi pepper
- Takana mustard greens
- Surf clam salad
[Top 10 Toppings]
- Beef sinew and salmon roe
- Egg yolk and ground meat simmered in soy sauce
- Pork with kimchi and natto fermented soybeans
- Tuna stewed in soy sauce with hot green pepper
- Bacon and cheese
- Surf clam salad with grilled salmon roe
- Shirasu whitebait and mamakeha baby sardines with roe
- Yam burdock and green shiso
- Beef sinew and curry
- Spicy cod roe with takana mustard greens
On the day of the opening, it was possible to place an order by phone around 11:30 am an
Rice balls ordered for takeout from the “Bonko” rice ball specialty shop, a sister store of Bon-go
And now, here are the menu items that we ordered for takeout from the “Bonko” rice ball specialty shop.
We ordered four rice balls with salmon, soy sauce-pickled egg yolk, chicken karaage mayo, and salmon roe, along with miso soup (tofu soup).
Each rice ball is impressively large and generously filled with ingredients.
Salmon, a classic rice ball ingredient, is flavored with a strong saltiness that pairs well with the sweet Niigata Koshihikari rice.
Salmon roe, which has a slightly higher price, is generously packed inside each rice ball, coloring the whole rice ball with its vibrant orange. The roe is delicious without any bitterness.
The chicken karaage mayo contains several small pieces of fried chicken. While it doesn’t have a strong meaty flavor, the mayonnaise-based sauce has a rich and savory taste that goes well with rice. It is not overly greasy and is quite delicious.
The soy sauce-pickled egg yolk is a new and delightful addition. The yolk is well-formed and easy to eat. The flavor of the yolk is rich and creamy, similar to eating TKG (raw egg over rice). This is my personal favorite ingredient.
The tofu miso soup is a simple miso soup with only tofu and green onions. Its simplicity makes it a good match for any of the rice ball ingredients.
Bon-go’s sister store, “Bonko” rice ball specialty shop, opens in Shinjuku San-chome! Delicious rice balls (salmon, salmon roe, soy sauce-pickled egg yolk, chicken karaage mayo) available for takeout
What did you think?
This time, we introduced the “Bonko” rice ball specialty shop, a sister store of Bon-go, which opened in Shinjuku San-chome.
Yumiko Ukonga, the owner of Otsuka’s “Bon-go,” is also present at the store, providing excellent customer service.
We’re also looking forward to the eat-in service starting on January 26th (Thursday).
If you’re curious, please give it a try.
Until next time.
| Store Name | Onigiri specialty store Bonko |
| Address | 1st floor, Mayabuilding, 3-14-23 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022 Nearest station: Shinjuku-sanchome Station |
| Nearest station | Shinjuku-sanchome Station |
| Business hours | 1:30-23:00 |
| Closed | Open year-round |
| Power outlets | × |
| Wi-Fi | × |
| Smoking | × |
| Notes | Cash only |
| Tabelog score | – |